XTERRA, the premier off-road triathlon series, returns to Bicol next month with the holding of the exciting off-road triathlon XTERRA Albay on June 17.
While the basic principles of swim, bike, run remain the same, XTERRA off road racing is a vastly different experience from regular triathlon races.
XTERRA is more than just a race. It is an experience like no other according to organizer Sunrise Events during the race launch yesterday at Seda Hotel BGC.
“Our number one goal is to make sure that our athletes our safe. We want to make sure that the athlete experience is second to none. That they have the best possible race experience. On their way home, traveling abroad, to the UK or Australia. We want them to remember that they had a wonderful time coming to the Philippines,” said Sunrise Events Founder Wilfred Uytengsu.
In holding the XTERRA race, Sunrise Events leads the charge in support of sports tourism which benefits the lesser known tourist destinations in the country.
“We believe in social responsibility. We want to give back to the municipalities that we visit. That’s a very important part for Sunrise Events. We support Legaspi. We will make sure that everyone in Legaspi knows that we are appreciative of everything that they’ve done to ensure the success of the race,” said Uytengsu.
Bradley Weiss, winner of the past two stagings of the race, returns to chase a three-peat of the 1.5km swim-28km mountain bike-8km trail run event, presented by the City of Legazpi. Austrian Carina Wasle leads the cast chasing the women’s crown.
Weiss and Wasle will be looking to follow-up to their XTERRA Danao victories last month.
They will be challenged by New Zealand’s Sam Osborne, who placed second to Weiss in Danao, third placer Kieran McPherson, also of New Zealand, 2016 XTERRA Asia-Pacific titlist Ben Allen of Australia, Japanese Takahiro Ogasawara, the 2016 XTERRA Saipan winner, Akihiro Maeda, also of Japan, Kiwis Alex Roberts and Olly Shaw and local ace Joseph Miller.
“What I love most about XTERRA is the remote places of the world I get to visit and the amazing cultures and people I am exposed to. It has enriched my life tremendously and I will be forever grateful that I got to travel so extensively around our beautiful planet taking part in a sport I love,” said Weiss.
Mountain biking and trail running present their own set of unique challenges from just a road-focused triathlon race.
Weiss said he can’t wait to take on the other challengers adding that he’s been preparing hard to take on his fellow XTERRA warriors in the upcoming event to be held around the shadow of Mayon Volcano.
“We have assembled an outstanding cast of pros and everybody is looking forward to a great, very challenging XTERRA race in Albay. We take pride that on the 10th year celebration of Sunrise, we had the opportunity to do two XTERRA triathlons, including the Asia Pacific Championship in Danao last month,” said Uytengsu.
The duathlon (2km run-14km bike-4km run) and the lite XTERRA (750km swim-14km bike-4km run) will also be held on the same day.
For details, visit www.albay.xterraphil.com or hashtags #XTERRAAlbay or social media accounts facebook /XTERRAAlbay, twitter @XTERRAAlbay or instagram @XTERRAAlbay.
The Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, Prudential Guarantee, @GO Express, Sanicare, AlcoPlus, David’s Salon, and media partner HyperHD on Cignal also support the event.